Videoconferencing service system, videoconferencing service operating method and service center

ABSTRACT

A videoconferencing service operating method and the videoconferencing service system thereof in which Multipoint Control Units communicate with videoconferencing terminals through a communication network is disclosed in this invention, it is characterized that through a computer network, MCUs are connected with a service center that accepts and processes videoconferencing service request, dispatches MCUs resource, manages centrally and drives videoconferencing service. A service center that is used in the said videoconferencing service operating method and system includes a Web server that receives a subscriber service request on a network, a service-processing module that receives subscriber messages sent centrally by the said Web server and dispatches MCUs resources on the computer network.

FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY

The invention generally relates to the multimedia communication field,especially to the videoconferencing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Videoconferencing service provides distance multimedia service includingvideo, audio and data. With videoconferencing service, when peoplecommunicates with each other in different places, voices of theparticipants can be heard and their images can be seen; thus thecommunication fills with feeling of reality, closeness and on location.Videoconferencing service can be used in military, politic, economic,education and health fields; the advantages of reality, high efficiencyand real-time will give people an effective manner for communication,management and collaborative decision-making.

The videoconferencing service is a communication mean which is used forhaving a meeting among two or several places through transmissionchannel by means of video technology and devices. As shown in FIG. 1, ingeneral, a videoconferencing system includes videoconferencingterminals, transmission channels and multi-point control units (MCUs);they will be described in the following.

A videoconferencing terminal is directly operated by the subscriber andprovides input and output of video, audio and data signals to thevideoconferencing system; a videoconferencing terminal includes a videoinput/output device, an audio input/output device, a terminal processorand a terminal management system, and optionally includes peripheralssuch as a power amplifier device, a big screen or an electronic whiteboard etc.

A videoconferencing terminal, on the one hand, samples, compresses,codes and multiplexes the video, audio and data signals at thevideoconference site in real time, and then transmits to a transmissionchannel; on the other hand, classifies, decodes and recovers thereceived signal to the original video, audio and data signals. Besides,a videoconferencing terminal also transmits control signals of thevideoconference at local site, such as request to speak, request thevideoconference control claim etc., to the MCU, and executes commandssent by the MCU.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the present technology the MCU is the controlkernel of a videoconferencing system. When a videoconference has morethan two participants, i.e. two videoconferencing terminals, it must becontrolled by a MCU, and all videoconferencing terminals are connectedto the MCU with standard interface; the MCU implements exchange andmixture of the video and audio signals according to the internationalstandard protocols, such as H.221, H.242, H.243 and T.120. In general, aMCU is consisted of two parts: a central processing unit and a console;the central processing unit implements functions specified in theprotocols and the console implements a man-machine interface where theoperator sends commands and operations to the MCU; when thevideoconferencing service is opened to the public, a service room isneeded to implement videoconference registration, reservation andbilling etc.

In a videoconferencing system, it is necessary that there is acommunication network to connect videoconferencing terminals and MCUs;physically, these transmission channels may be a fiber, a cable, amicrowave mode or a satellite mode. Usually communication networks for avideoconferencing system are: the Public Switched Telephone Network(PSTN), the Packet Switched Public Data Network (PSPDN) and the DigitalData Network (DDN) etc.; at present with the ATM technology, somebroadband networks, such as B-ISDN, IP network and IQ network may beused for videoconferencing service. Along with popularization of theISDN and Internet network, application of the videoconferencing serviceis spread.

Nevertheless, the present videoconferencing system lacks effectivemanagement mechanism on great capability, thereby the capability of theMCU cannot be extended on the great scale; they can be only used for asmall number of services so that utilization efficiency of the networkis low. In this case, it is difficult to open videoconferencing serviceto the public.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Objective of the invention is to provide a videoconferencing system , avideoconferencing operating method and a service center that can expandthe capability of MCUs, harmonize their works and improve utilizationefficiency of videoconferencing system so that it is opened to thepublic.

The invention provides a videoconferencing operating method in which theMCUs communicate with videoconferencing terminals through acommunication network; it is characterized that in the method a servicecenter that accepts and processes videoconferencing service request,dispatches MCUs resources, manages and drives videoconferencing service,is connected with MCUs through a computer network.

The said service center of the invention includes: a Web server thatreceives a subscriber service request on a network, a service-processingmodule that receives subscriber information sent by the Web server anddispatches MCUs resources through the said computer network.

The invention provides a videoconferencing system that includesvideoconferencing terminals, and MCUs, which are connected throughcommunication networks; it is characterized that the saidvideoconferencing system further includes a service center that isconnected with MCUs through a computer network, and accepts andprocesses videoconferencing service request, dispatches MCUs resources,manages and drives videoconferencing service.

The invention proposes a videoconferencing system, a operating methodand a service center, where a service center that accepts and processesvideoconferencing service request, dispatches MCUs resources, managesand drives videoconferencing service, is connected with MCUs through acomputer network. By this way, videoconferencing service is opened tothe public and capability of MCUs expedition is expanded, their worksare harmonized and utilization efficiency of videoconferencing system isimproved.

Specifically, in the conventional videoconferencing system and operatingmode, every MCU has one console and a operator; but in thevideoconferencing system of the invention, since there is a servicecenter, so there are advantages as follows: the system need not anyoperator and can automatically work 24 hours a day; a service center canmanage many MCUs simultaneously and centrally, so the maintenancepersonnel and equipment are reduced, and the service center also has acharging system and account system that are convenient for openingvideoconferencing service to the public.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a videoconferencing system in prior art.

FIG. 2 shows a networking diagram of a videoconferencing system of theinvention.

FIG. 3 shows a diagram of the service center in work status for firstembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows videoconferencing service from a subscriber point of viewfor first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 shows a reservation flowchart of a videoconference for firstembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows a service-processing module of the service center forsecond embodiment of the invention.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The invention will be described in more detail with reference todrawings and embodiments.

FIG. 2 shows a networking diagram of a videoconferencing system of theinvention. As shown in the diagram, the system consists of five parts: acommunication network, a computer network, multipoint control units(MCU), videoconferencing terminals and a service center.

The communication network supports the videoconferencing service; it maybe an E1 dedicated network, a V35 dedicated network, an ISDN network, anIP network, an IQ network or other communication networks. The MCU usedfor accessing and processing the videoconferencing service requests fromvideoconferencing terminals is core process equipment; it is requiredthat the MCU has a larger capacity, such as can be connected about 100videoconferencing terminals. The videoconferencing terminal, which ispurchased by a subscriber and used with a television, provides serviceto the subscriber. The service center is a control center that managesand drives videoconferencing service, and provides functions, such asvideoconferencing service request processing, service acceptance, andcharging etc. The computer network is a support network with which theservice center manages MCUs, and it may be any computer network, such asTCP/IP network, LAN with or without TCP/IP protocol.

As shown in FIG. 2, the MCUs connect with videoconferencing terminalsthrough the communication network, which may be an E1 dedicated network,a V35 dedicated network, an ISDN network, an IP network, an IQ networkor other communication networks. Main thinking of the invention is that:setting a service center that accepts and processes thevideoconferencing service request, dispatches the MCU resources, managesand drives centrally the videoconferencing services; communicationbetween the service center and MCUs is a computer network.

The invention provides a videoconferencing operating method in which theMCUs communicate with videoconferencing terminals through acommunication network; in the method a service center that accepts andprocesses videoconferencing service request, dispatches MCUs resources,manages and drives videoconferencing service, is connected with MCUsthrough a computer network.

It is better that the computer network is a TCP/IP network or a LAN.

It is better that communication between the service center and the MCUsdeploys the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

It is better that the service center receives subscriber servicerequests on the network through a Web server; with a service-processingmodule the service center receives subscriber messages transmittedcentrally by the Web server, and dispatches the MCU resources throughthe said computer network.

It is better that the service center stores data in a database.

It is better that the service-processing module deploys expandablemulti-layer Client/Server architecture.

It is better that the connection (interface) between the Web server andthe service center is a Socket with hold mode.

It is better that the operating method of the invention forvideoconferencing services includes steps of:

(a) visiting a Web server with a browser to make a videoconferencereservation;

(b) sending the videoconference reservation to the service-processingmodule by the Web server, initiating a dispatching procedure by theservice-processing module; if the dispatching procedure is failure,returning a failure message of the videoconference reservation to theWeb server by the service-processing module;

(c) At the starting time of the videoconference defined by thesubscriber, informing the related MCU of convening the videoconference;

(d) At the ending time of the videoconference, informing the related MCUof ending the videoconference by the service-processing module.

It is better that the Web server creates a subscriber account numberbased on the subscriber service request, and provides services,including password updating, billing interrogation, to the subscribers.

It is better that the Web server provides subscribers managementfacilities by which a service provider manages subscribers includingsubscriber registration, subscriber profile update, subscriber deletionand subscriber information interrogation.

It is better that the Web server provides videoconference sitemanagement facilities with a videoconference site profile that isdefined beforehand and stored in a database; when the videoconference isto be convened by a subscriber, the videoconference site that attend thevideoconference can be selected from the database.

It is better that the Web server provides videoconferencing managementfacility that performs states transition among a videoconference statenot to be dispatched, a videoconference state having been successfullydispatched, a videoconference state being convened, a videoconferencebeing ended and a videoconference being interrupted.

It is better that the Web server provides charging management facilitiesthat have videoconference charging service for the service provider andcharge interrogation service for the subscriber.

It is better that the Web server provides notice service; a systemadministrator can broadcast message to an assistant and to subscribersthrough the internal notice board and external notice board,respectively.

The invention proposes a service center used for videoconferencingservice operating in a videoconferencing system; the service centercomprises a Web server that receives a subscriber service request on anetwork, a service-processing module that receives subscriberinformation sent centrally by the Web server and dispatches MCUsresources through a computer network.

It is better that the said computer network is a TCP/IP network or aLAN.

It is better that connection between the said Web server and the saidserver center is a socket with hold mode.

It is better that the said service center further has a database forstoring data.

It is better that communication between the said service-processingmodule and MCUs deploys SNMP.

It is better that the said service-processing module includes: a sourcemanagement module, a videoconference management module, avideoconference site management module, a subscriber management moduleand a charging module.

It is better that the said service-processing module deploys anexpandable multi-layer Client/Server architecture.

The invention provides a videoconferencing system that includesvideoconferencing terminals, and MCUs, which are connected throughcommunication networks; the said videoconferencing system furtherincludes a service center that is connected with MCUs through a computernetwork, and accepts and processes a videoconferencing service request,dispatches MCUs resources, manages and drives videoconferencing service.

It is better that the said communication network is a network based onATM technology, an ISDN network or an IP network.

It is better that the said computer network is a TCP/IP network or aLAN.

It is better that communication between the said service center and MCUsdeploys SNMP protocol.

It is better that the said service center includes: a Web server thatreceives a subscriber service request on a network, a service-processingmodule that receives subscriber information sent centrally by the Webserver and dispatches MCUs resources on a computer network.

It is better that the said service center further has a database forstoring data.

It is better that the said service-processing module deploys anexpandable multi-layer Client/Server architecture.

The service center needs to provide the function of accepting andprocessing service. A Web server receives and transfers the subscriberservice requests to the service-processing module that manages theservices, i.e. dispatches and controls the services. FIG. 3 shows firstembodiment of the invention in which the service center is consisted ofa Web server, a service-processing module and a database. The servicecenter receives the subscriber service request either through the Webserver on the network or through an assistant, then theservice-processing module, which receives subscriber information sentcentrally by the Web server, dispatches the MCUs resources through thesaid computer network; the data are stored in the database.

The system provides a Web server with which a subscriber can make avideoconference reservation in a network station mode in order to adaptfor WWW. In order that the videoconference reservation information canbe accepted by the MCU, it is necessary that there is a uniquedispatching center. The system provides the said service-processingmodule that acts as the said unique dispatching center and is invisibleto the subscribers and only used by the service provider for monitoringand control. The service-processing module, on the one hand, receivesthe subscriber information sent by the said Web server, and on the otherhand, interacts with the MCUs after storing and dispatching thesubscriber information. Thus, a communication protocol problem betweenthe service-processing module and the MCUs provided by different vendorsarises because of the deference protocol. By applying standardcommunication protocols, such as SNMP (Simple Network ManagementProtocol), this problem can be solved; the SNMP belongs to TCP/IP stackand is based on UDP (Subscriber Datagram Protocol).

Since the data to process in videoconferencing service is very large andalso is important, the database is adopted to store the data in thesystem. In this embodiment, a database that is a part of the saidservice center. The database also performs data backup, data logicalchecking and other conventional database functions, such as datacomputing, data adding and deleting etc.

It can be seen from the above mention, in this embodiment the servicecenter includes: a Web server, a service-processing module and adatabase. The Web server interacts with the subscriber directly; itprocesses the subscriber service request and returns the resultincluding billing message etc.; the service-processing module performsmainly all the videoconferencing functions, especially the dispatchingfunction, i.e. MCU resources allocation and videoconferencing control;the database performs data storing and data security manage etc.

FIG. 4 shows a videoconferencing service diagram of the first embodimentfrom a subscriber point of view. In FIG. 4, a subscriber make avideoconference reservation through a man-made mode or a Web mode; aftera series processing made by the videoconferencing system, thevideoconference will be automatically started at the time defined by thesubscriber and the reserved videoconferencing terminals will beaccessed; after the videoconference is ended, the charging of thisvideoconference will be calculated down within a defined time. In FIG.4, the videoconferencing system includes MCUs, the communication networkand operation management system etc.

In this embodiment, the Web server provides services as follow: creatingan account number to every videoconferencing subscriber, updating asubscriber password and interrogating a subscriber billing; forsubscriber management used by the service provider, including asubscriber registration, a subscriber profile update, a subscriberdeletion and a subscriber status interrogation; for videoconference sitemanagement, including to store a videoconference site defined beforehandin the database, and when the videoconference is convened, selectingeach videoconference site to attend the videoconference from thedatabase to the convened videoconference; for videoconferencingmanagement, including to process states transition of thevideoconference state not to be dispatched, the videoconference statehaving been successful dispatched, the videoconference state beingconvened, the videoconference state having been ended and thevideoconference being interrupted; for charging management, providingcharging service to the service provider and billing interrogation tothe subscribers; an internal notice board used for the systemadministrator to broadcast messages to the assistant; an external noticeboard used for the system administrator to broadcast messages tosubscribers.

FIG. 5 shows a reservation flowchart of the first embodiment of theinvention. The flowchart includes the following steps:

(1) A subscriber visits the Web server to make a videoconferencereservation through the browser;

(2) The Web server sends the reservation information to theservice-processing module; the service-processing module initiates thedispatching mechanism; when the dispatching is failure, a reservationfailure is returned to the Web server by the service-processing module;

(3) When the dispatching is successful, at the defined time, the relatedMCUs are informed about the videoconference being convened by theservice-processing module;

(4) When the videoconference is ended, the service-processing moduleinforms of the MCUs;

Waiting for charging and billing.

In this embodiment, a Web server is used for videoconferencingreservation; the advantages of this mode is as follow:

(1) A videoconferencing subscriber may make a videoconferencereservation at any time and any place as long as Internet can beconnected with;

(2) The subscriber can check his/her own billing, charging and usecourse recorders at any time and any place;

(3) The interface of network station is friendly so that operation issimple and convenience;

(4) A service provider can broadcast notices and messages to subscriberseasily by network station, so not only more subscribers can be owned,but also information maintenance is reduced. For subscribers who cannotconnect with Internet may go to a nearby service room to make avideoconferencing reservation by himself or herself or by an assistant.

FIG. 6 shows a service-processing module diagram of a service center. Asshown in FIG. 6, the service-processing module takes an expandablemulti-layer Client/Server architecture; wherein S1, S2 and S3 representdifferent layers. Logically, the S3 layer service-processing moduletakes S2 layer service-processing module as a client, the S2 layerservice-processing module takes S1 layer service-processing module as aclient, and the S1 layer service-processing module take the MCUs asclients and communicates with them in SNMP protocol.

The Client/Server architecture makes a videoconferencing system easilyexpandable to manage more MCUs. The higher layer service-processingmodules (layers S2 and S3) can also convert different protocols;therefore different communication networks, such as ISDN network and IPnetwork can be connected together so that a videoconferencing networkcan be formed.

As mentioned above, with a Web server a videoconferencing system canopen service to the public and operate automatically.

The embodiments mentioned above are only used to describe the inventionand not used to limit the invention. Those skilled in the art shouldunderstand that any modification, revision or replacement within thespirit and scope of the invention would be contained in the Claims ofthe invention.

1. A videoconferencing service operating method, in which MultipointControl Units (MCUs) are connected with videoconferencing terminalsthrough a communication network, comprising: connecting the MCUs with aservice center through a computer network, the service center comprisinga Web server adapted to receive videoconferencing service requests, anda Service-Processing Module adapted to receive subscriber informationfrom the Web server, dispatch resources of the MCUs and drivevideoconferencing service; providing subscriber management facilities bythe Web server, through which a service provider manages subscribersincluding subscriber registration, subscriber profile update, subscriberdeletion and subscriber profile interrogation.
 2. The videoconferencingservice operating method according to claim 1, further comprising,deploying a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) for communicationbetween the service center and the MCUs.
 3. The videoconferencingservice operating method according to claim 1, further comprising,deploying an expandable multi-layer Client/Server architecture in theservice-processing module.
 4. The videoconferencing service operatingmethod according to claim 1, further comprising, deploying a Socket withhold mode to connect the Web server and the service center.
 5. Thevideoconferencing service operating method according to claim 1, furthercomprising following steps of: (a) visiting the Web server with abrowser to make a videoconference reservation; (b) sending the saidvideoconference reservation to the service-processing module by the Webserver; initiating a dispatching procedure by the service-processingmodule; if the said dispatching procedure is failure, a failure messageof the said videoconference reservation being sent to the said Webserver; (c) at starting time of the videoconference defined by asubscriber before, informing MCUs related to the videoconference ofconvening the videoconference; (d) at ending time of thevideoconference, informing the said MCU of ending the videoconference bythe service-processing module.
 6. The videoconferencing serviceoperating method according to claim 1, further comprising, in the Webserver, creating a subscriber account number based on the subscriberrequest, and providing services including password updating, billinginterrogation, to the subscriber.
 7. The videoconferencing serviceoperating method according to claim 1, further comprising, in the Webserver, providing videoconference site management facilities with avideoconference site profile that is defined beforehand and stored inthe said database; when a videoconference is to be convened by asubscriber, selecting videoconference sites to attend thevideoconference from the said database.
 8. The videoconferencing serviceoperating method according to claim 1, further comprising, in the Webserver, providing videoconferencing management facilities that canperform states transition among a videoconference state not to bedispatched, a videoconference state having been successfully dispatched,a videoconference state being convened, a videoconference being endedand a videoconference being interrupted.
 9. The videoconferencingservice operating method according to claim 1, further comprising, inthe Web server, providing videoconferencing charging managementfacilities that have videoconference charging service for a serviceprovider and billing interrogation for a subscriber.
 10. Thevideoconferencing service operating method according to claim 1, furthercomprising, in the Web server, providing internal notice board used fora system administrator to broadcast messages to an assistant and aexternal notice board used for the system administrator to broadcastmessages to subscribers.
 11. A service center used for videoconferencingservice operation comprises a Web server adapted to receive avideoconferencing service request, and provide subscriber managementfacilities by which a service provider manages subscribers includingsubscriber registration, subscriber profile update, subscriber deletionand subscriber profile interrogation, and a service-processing moduleadapted to receive subscriber information sent by the Web server anddispatch resources of Multipoint Control Units (MCUs).
 12. The servicecenter used for videoconferencing service operation according to claim11, further comprises connection between the said Web server and thesaid server center is a socket with hold mode.
 13. The service centerused for videoconferencing service operation according to claim 11,further comprises communication between the service-processing moduleand MCUs deploys SNMP.
 14. The service center used for videoconferencingservice operation according to claim 11, wherein the service-processingmodule includes: a resource management module, a videoconferencemanagement module, a videoconference site management module, asubscriber management module and a charging module.
 15. The servicecenter used for videoconferencing service operation according to claim11, wherein the service-processing module deploys an expandablemulti-layer Client/Server architecture.
 16. A videoconferencing servicesystem, comprising: videoconferencing terminals; Multipoint ControlUnits (MCUs) which are connected with a communication network; a servicecenter, adapted to connect with MCUs through a computer network; whereinthe service center comprises a Web server adapted to receive avideoconferencing service request and provide subscriber managementfacilities by which a service provider manages subscribers includingsubscriber registration, subscriber profile update, subscriber deletionand subscriber profile interrogation, and a service-processing moduleadapted to receive subscriber information sent by the Web server anddispatch resources of MCUs.
 17. The videoconferencing service systemaccording to claim 16, further comprises, communication between theservice center and the MCUs deploys SNMP protocol.
 18. Thevideoconferencing service system according to claim 16, wherein theservice-processing module deploys an expandable multi-layerClient/Server architecture.